Vt. and Quebec announce electric car corridor

One of the biggest impediments to establishing a market for electric cars is the lack of charging stations, like this one in Montpelier, Vt. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

Starting this fall, people who drive electric vehicles should be able to travel the 138-mile route between Burlington and Montreal without worrying they'll run short of a charge thanks to a planned electric vehicle charging corridor, Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin and Quebec Premier Pauline Marois announced in Montreal.

Initially the corridor will have more than 20 charging stations along the route, although it's expected the number of stations will increase.

"Alternative fuel vehicles lower our reliance on gasoline, helping both our environment and our energy independence," Shumlin said Monday in Montreal at an event with Marois. "With the number of alternative energy vehicles growing at tremendous rates, these stations, along with websites identifying their location, will support visitors and residents as they use this clean and efficient mode of transportation."

The agreement announced Monday also envisions a similar corridor on other cross-border routes, including between Magog and Sherbrook in Quebec's Eastern townships and St. Johnsbury in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom.

"The partnership between Vermont and Québec is a long one filled with many issues of common interests," Marois said. "Today's announcement outlining the installation of the electric charging network is a concrete example of our shared leadership in the field of sustainable development and clean energy use."